Roque: VP push no attempt to perpetuate Duterte in power

Malacañang denied on Thursday that President Rodrigo Duterte is scheming to perpetuate himself in power.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque was responding to critics saying that PDP-Laban pushing Duterte to be their vice presidential bet for 2022 polls is a desperate attempt to remain in power.

“Wala pong desperadong tangka na mapanatili siya sa kapangyarihan (There is no such desperate attempt to make him remain in power),” Roque said.

“Hindi siya mananatili beyond his term of office (He won’t stay beyond his term),” he added.

President Duterte’s term ends on June 30, 2022.

Roque, however, said that there is no legal impediment for the President to run for vice president in 2022 since it is not explicitly stated in the 1987 Constitution.

“When it is not prohibited, it must be allowed,” Roque, a lawyer, pointed out.

Likewise, Roque said PDP-Laban is not troubled by factions, even if PDP-Laban  president and Senator Manny Pacquiao earlier called on his party members to ignore a May 31 meeting in Cebu called by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

After Pacquiao’s opposition, Duterte said, through Roque, he has authorized Cusi to convene the party.

“There is no problem with the party,” said Roque, who is not a member of the ruling party.

“Senator Pacquiao remains the president of the party,” he added.

Pacquiao has since sought audience with Duterte, but there is no schedule yet.—AOL, GMA News